Four out of every five small business owners feel isolated, and almost a third said they lack knowledge and need extra support in business planning, a survey and report by not-for-profit group, Business Mentors, shows.

Two-thirds of they survey respondents say they haven't thought about retirement.

"Owners need to do their bit and invest in their business, that means investing in the best support available".

She said among businesses' major concerns was finding staff with the "right work ethic", as well on-the-job experience, and the right qualifications.

Small businesses make up more than 90 percent of all companies in New Zealand, with about 850 being set up every month.

Of the 10 segments the NFIB survey analyses, five of them were down in October compared with the prior month, while four of the categories improved and one remained unchanged, the NFIB said.

A Bank of America fall 2017 Small Business Owner report found a high level of small business owner confidence in the economy as well. That reading was down three points. Outlook for expansion and sales expectations each shot up six points and job openings rose by five points. That's down a point from September.

The already-tightening labor market continued to get tighter for small business owners in October, continuing a year-long trend since the election. Fourteen percent (14%), up 2 points from the previous month, reported increasing employment an average of 3.5 workers per firm, while 11% (down 2 points) reported reducing employment an average of 2.2 workers per firm on a seasonally-adjusted basis. At a net negative 5 percent, more owners said current inventories were too high rather than too low.